A successful time at the National RS Aero Championships for Archie

Whilst we here is the East had a cloudy cold half term, Archie H went to the Royal Torbay Yacht Club to compete in the National RS Aero champs. In Torquay it was hot and sunny, but sadly the wind gods did not come to play and one days racing was abandoned due to not enough wind.

The RS Aero is a fast plaining single hander usually and comes with three rigs the 5m, 7m and 9m, so the championships are split three ways.

Day one - All the Aeros raced in a mass start - 70 boats and the 5s were heavily penalised with a poor PY in light winds - Archie was 4th Aero 5 at the end of the day.

Day 2 - with one bullet and consistent results in the top 3, Archie was in second place laying just behind (one point) the current European champion from Holland.

Day 3 was spent watching small puffs dance about on a mirror sea and no racing was completed, the race officers tried their hardest but the usual sea breeze stayed firmly away despite the heat.

The last day dawned hot and sunny (again!). Archie had to beat the leader by two places to survive the dreaded count-back. However, he stuck to his guns and after many delays and much bobbing about waiting for the wind he sailed brilliantly. He covered well initially and when he got the jump pulled out in front and won, and more importantly he was three places ahead of the overnight leader and therefore took the title.

The Aero appeals to people of all ages and sizes so there is also a national schools and youth title, Archie also won the youth cup, awarded to the best placed youth in all three rigs (under 19) over the weekend, beating the current Schools champion.